When I lived in Dallas and Old Man Winter decided to hit the street full force, I tended to leave 2 - 3 hours in advance so that I could get into the city and to my classes on time. There was no way to avoid the grid lock during the season so I had to compensate with my drive time. I also had to drive slower because the road would ice up really bad and I had to double the space between myself and the car in front of me. It was really hard when I was forced to stop, facing downhill, on an overpass since there was no traction.

I live in rural Wyoming -- starting in October (and earlier in some years) we move extra coats, blankets, a shovel, a tow rope and a bag of clay kitty litter or sand to the car.

We always have one person who knows where we're going if we head out of town, and people who live out of town inform their contacts every time they leave the house. We expect drive times to triple. Never go anywhere without a phone (even though about half of the area roads are dead spots), never try to go anywhere fast and never leave another driver stranded.

Every evening, plug in the block heaters if you have them. In the mornings, start the car up 30-45 minutes early with the heat on full-blast to help melt the ice on the windows enough to scrape. Shovel out the driveway if needed. And suddenly I realize that I could probably write a hub on winter driving here -- suffice to say, it has a significant impact on how we do things .

For home, etc...yes, I think a hub will be along shortly. I started touching up the weatherization a month ago .

Geeze, these guys are so well prepared! We get out the snow shovels and check the snow blower and generator. Other than that, it's come what may, after all it comes every year whether we like it or not.Of course we do get out the winter clothes and make sure we have enough wood for the wood stove. It wouldn't do to have to pay a huge oil bill when we can burn wood at half the price.Hmm, I guess we prepare more than I thought. I make sure my computer and TV are working 'cause I'm not going far in winter weather.

Tillie....You have just exposed a reality for New Yorkers. We do an enormous amount to be proactive in terms of our brutal winters. The fact is, being lifers here, we do it all automatically. Almost without conscious thought, we go into Auto-Preparedness. It's second nature to us---an annual ritual. We can do it blindfolded!I get 4 new tires, an inspection, oil change and brake check. Have my car washed, waxed and detailed. Load the trunk with: bottles of water, my portable battery charger, blankets, non-perishable snacks, small shovel, bag of kitty litter and extra hats, scarves & gloves.I spend about $200 to $250 in groceries and other home supplies, & stock the cupboards. I wash all windows, lock them up and hang heavier drapes. Put out all the rubber mats and area rugs and hang winter coats, jackets, hats & scarves & store boots in the hall closet.Make phone calls or write emails to all friends and family members I probably won't be seeing for 3 to 4 months.....wish them warmth & Happy Holidays & tell them I'll see them when Spring breaks through!Make sure my cable bill is paid, I have a good supply of reading material and word puzzles, pencils, printer paper, ink cartridges, 3 flashlights, extra batteries, candles, portable radio & hot water bottle......LOLLast but not least I re-stock the medicine cabinet: Aspirin, decongestant, VICKS, cough drops & throat lozenges, Emergen-C, Vitamins & herbal teas. There ya go....all set to hibernate in WESTERN NEW YORK!! The best part is, it always comes to an end eventually!

Sorry can't resist being a smart ass, but we turn our sprinklers off and sweep the gutters. Oh, but we are in a drought and we never turned the sprinklers on last summer. I highly respect people who live in areas where winter is snowy. My sister and brother near Boston lived in California long enough to be considered crazy. My sis bought a house with a pool two years ago. Bro ran all last winter and qualified for the Boston Marathon, but it was a rugged winter. The year my sister's family moved to Rochester, NY there was hardly any snow that winter and Boston got hammered. They moved back to Boston and Rochester went back to it's usual winter weather. She has been paying for that year ever since.

Judy......Thanks for the chuckles. Being from California, I can't imagine you need to do much prepping for any reason during any season. Isn't it a fact that California weather ALL THE TIME is the envy of the rest of the country?

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